Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

2018; 3(1): 1-4

http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/eeb
doi: 10.11648/j.eeb.20180301.11
ISSN: 2575-3789 (Print); ISSN: 2575-3762 (Online)

Effects of Sowing Date on the Growth, Yield and Honey Bee

Foraging Intensity of Buck Wheat (Fagopyrum esculentum)
at Bako Agricultural Research Center
Tusa Gemechu*, Amsalu Arega
Bako Agricultural Research Center, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Bako, West Shoa, Oromia, Ethiopia

Email address:
*
Corresponding author

To cite this article:

Tusa Gemechu, Amsalu Arega. Effects of Sowing Date on the Growth, Yield and Honey Bee Foraging Intensity of Buck Wheat (Fagopyrum
esculentum) at Bako Agricultural Research Center. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Vol. 3, No. 1, 2018, pp. 1-4.
doi: 10.11648/j.eeb.20180301.11

Received: July 28, 2017; Accepted: December 21, 2017; Published: January 31, 2018

Abstract: The flexibility and wide adaptation of buck wheat recently led it to be grown on different agro ecology, even
though it is not native to our country. A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of sowing date on growth, yield
and honey bee foraging intensity of buckwheat at Bako Agriculture Research Center. There were 5 treatments with the first
treatment sown on July, 15 having 10 days different between each treatments with three replications laid out in Randomized
Complete Block Design (RCBD). The experimental result showed that there was significance difference White seeded Variety
(V2) of buckwheat having 37 days stay with flowering which is planted in the Mid July and early August with the mean value
of about 31 days with extended flowering period and proceeds prolifically for about a month before gradually tapering off as
the plant matures. From the result above buckwheat was mature in 11 weeks. The later buckwheat is planted, the faster it will
mature. Therefore, speed of maturity depends on the planting date. Grain yield of buckwheat under different sowing date were
highly significant (p ≤ 0.05) highest grain yield for both Varieties planted in mid July and late July with the lowest grain yield
observed for both Varieties planted in the late August with the mean value of 14.40ku/ha. The result clearly indicates that
foraging intensity of honey bees at different flowering stage of the buck wheat has been significantly different at first week
flowering and second week of flowering stage with mean value of 36 and 31 bees/m2/10min. The intensive visitation of honey
bees with the mean value of 22 bees/m2/10min and 13 bees/m2/10min at early in the morning (08:30-08:40 am) and (04:30-
04:40 am) has been observed respectively.

Keywords: Buck Wheat, Foraging Intensity, Honey Bee, Sowing Date, Yield

speed of maturity depend on planting date. If planted early in

1. Introduction
The flexibility and wide adaptation of buck wheat recently
led it to be grown on different agro ecology, even though it is
not native to our country. The seeds germinate and emerge
rapidly when planted in warm soil, typically in three to four
days. Flowering begins about three weeks after planting, and
proceeds prolifically for a few weeks, before gradually
tapering off as the plant matures. The prolific flowers on
buckwheat have made the crop a good nectar source for
honey bee keepers. Buckwheat flowers are very fragrant and
are attractive to bees that use them to produce a special,
strongly flavored, dark memorable honey. Plant height and
the summer, and given good fertility, plants usually may take
10 to 12 weeks to mature [1]. The later buckwheat is planted,
the faster it will mature. The reason to plant buckwheat
relatively late is to push flowering into a period when nights
are starting to cool down, which will normally be the case in
late August or early September. In buckwheat, seed set is
globally very low, around 15-30% which is the major
constraint to buckwheat production worldwide [2].
Buckwheat is primarily a human food crop, used in similar
fashion to cereal grains such as wheat or oats. It has also
been used widely as a cover crop to smother weeds and
improve the soil. The crop seems to improve soil tilt, and is
2 Tusa Gemechu and Amsalu Arega: Effects of Sowing Date on the Growth, Yield and Honey Bee Foraging Intensity of
Buck Wheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) at Bako Agricultural Research Center

reported to make phosphorous more available as a soil
nutrient, possible through root-associated mycorrhizae.
Common buckwheat is one of the best source of high quality,
easily digestible protein, having a balanced amino acid
composition [3] and a good source of minerals. It is
cholesterol free and perfectly fits our modern low calorie,
high nutrition diets [4]. In alternative medicine, it is used for
balancing the sugar and cholesterol level in the blood [5].
Buckwheat is cross pollinated and an entomophilous plant;
honeybees are the major pollinators. The cultivation of
buckwheat along with beekeeping may produce 50 to100 kg
of honey per hectare, due to its extended flowering period for
more than 30 days [6]. Many factors, such as the floral
physiology and morphology, pollinator characteristics, as
well as effects of weather influence the success of pollination.
Buckwheat pollen is not windblown; therefore insects are
necessary for the transfer of pollen. Buckwheat flowers in the
first sunshine and during which time it is highly attractive to
bees [7] and most of the pollination activities occur. It is said
that a single visit of buckwheat flowers by a bee increases
plant productivity by 25-30% [8] three to four insect visits
are enough to pollinate one blossom of buckwheat while bee
visiting more than 5 times the productivity of plant decreases
[9]. Although some information on the adaptation and uses of
buckwheat from honey bee side of buckwheat has appeared
over the past 10 years, a great deal of buckwheat time of
plantation, honey bees foraging intensity and other effort is
still required. Therefore, the objective of this study was to see
the effects of planting date on the growth, yield and honey
bee foraging intensity of buckwheat.
2. Materials and Methods
A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of
sowing date on growth, yield and honey bee foraging
intensity of buckwheat at Bako Agriculture Research Center.
There were 5 treatments with the first treatment sown on July,
15 having 10 days different between each treatments with
three replications laid out in Randomized Complete Block
Design (RCBD). Land preparation was done by conventional
tillage and harrowing with plot size of 3m×3m within this
area, 1×1 m2 was taken as experimental unit for honey bee
foraging intensity data recording. 1m between reps and plots,
30cm between rows and seed rate of 50 kg/ha and 46kg/ha
Fertilizer rate were used. Plants were harvested manually
with the help of sickle when it is expected to be matured.
Plants were allowed to dry for easy threshing. Threshing was
done by beating with sticks.
The data obtained from experimental plots were recorded
and analyzed by using One-way Analysis of Variance
(ANOVA) procedure described by [10]. When the F-test
indicated statistical significance at the (P ≤ 0.05) level, the
Duncan's Multiple Range Test was used to compare the
difference of the means.

3. Results and Discussion

Table 1. Effects of sowing date on the agronomic and yield parameters of buck wheat varieties.

SD V DE DH DF DF-to DEF DEF DM Y in Q/ha

1 4.17a 20.67bc 27.17abcd 30cd 57.17bc 79.0bc 19.54a
July, 15
2 4.67 a 21.17ab 27.83abc 37.67a 65.50a 88.0a 21.61a
1 4.83a 24.00 a 28.83a 26.5d 55.33bc 77.0bc 19.35a
July, 25
2 5.17a 24.00a 28.33ab 35.50ab 63.83a 86.33a 21.72a
1 4.33a 21.83ab 26.83bcd 28.83d 55.67bc 73.0cde 11.92bc
Aug, 05
2 4.83a 22.33ab 26.83bcd 37.17a 64.00a 81.0ab 17.79ab
1 5.67a 17.33d 26.17cd 26.83d 53.00c 69.67de 8.38cd
Aug, 15
2 5.33a 18.00cd 25.33d 34.17abc 59.50b 75.33bcd 10.44cd
1 4.67a 20.33bc 26.00cd 26.83d 52.83c 65.8e 4.78d
Aug, 25
2 5.17a 20.83bc 26.17cd 31.50bcd 57.67b 69.17ed 9.06cd
Mean 4.88 21.05 26.95 31.50 58.45 76.4 14.40
SEM 0.13 0.36 0.21 0.64 0.66 1.3 1.52
CV 19.56 8.34 3.92 9.23 4.43 5.7 35.19

Where, SD= Sowing Date, V=Varieties, DE=Days of Emergency, DH=Days of Heading, DF=Days of Flowering, DEF=Days of End flowering, DM=Days of
Maturity, Y= Yield.

No significance difference has been observed on the days
of emergency for both buckwheat varieties planted at
different dates. But, there were significance difference on the
days of heading, longer heading dates for both buckwheat
varieties planted in the late July (24 Days) and shorter
heading dates Black seeded (V1) buckwheat varieties planted
in mid- August (17 Days), with the mean heading date of
about three weeks after planting.
Both buckwheat varieties planted in the late July shows
significantly longer days (28 days) of flowering with the
shorter days white seeded (V2) buckwheat planted in mid
August (25 days) after planting. The results for days of
flowering and maturity was found in the range reported by
[11] that days to 50% flowering was 26-45 and days to
maturity were 67-98.
There was significance difference on stay with flowering
for long period of time having longer (37 days) of buckwheat
white seeded (V2) planted in the Mid July and early August,
with the mean value of 31 days having extended flowering
period and proceeds prolifically for about a month before
gradually tapering off as the plant matures.
 Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 2018; 3(1): 1-4 3

the latter part of July, buckwheat will mature in about 9 to 10

Figure 1. Buckwheat in full bloom at Bako Agriculture Research Center.
From the result above buck wheat was mature in 11 weeks.
This was similar with the other finding which states that if
planted early in the summer, and given good fertility, plants
usually may take 11 to 12 weeks to mature [11]. If planted in
Table 2. Effects of different sowing date on honey bee foraging intensity at different flowering stages of buck wheat varieties.
weeks. The later buckwheat is planted, the faster it will
mature. Therefore, speed of maturity depends on the planting
date. Grain yield of buck wheat under different sowing date
were highly significant (p ≤ 0.05) highest grain yield for both
Varieties planted in mid July and late July with the lowest
grain yield observed for both Varieties planted in the late
August with the mean value of 14.40 Q/ha. This result has
been found below the average of world grain yield which
states that, buckwheat crop removes 47 kg nitrogen, 22 kg
phosphorus and 40 kg potassium for each hectare seeded and
gives a yield of 1600 kg/ha in Manitoba, Canada [12].
Possibly this recorded variation results from different rating
systems or to the large variation that is available in the
different sowing date of Buckwheat, which is caused by the
large variation in altitude and agro ecological conditions
under which they have developed. [2] found that the yield of
common buckwheat increased with high soil moisture
although seed set remained essentially the same.

Sowing Date Varieties Foraging Intensity of Bees at First Week of Flowering Foraging Intensity of Bees at Second Week After Flowering
1 38.00abc 17.50de
July, 15
2 48.33a 58.17a
1 34.00bc 30.17bcd
July, 25
2 38.83abc 40.33b
1 34.33bc 33.17bc
Aug, 05
2 42.33ab 37.67bc
1 35.67bc 14.00e
Aug, 15
2 30.17bc 29.50bcd
1 28.50c 27.33bcd
Aug, 25
2 30.00c 27.00cd
Mean 36.02 31.48
SEM 2.03 3.25
CV 17.53 21.83

There were high significance differences in the flowering first week of flowering. However, in the second round of
intensity of honey bees highest number of bees visit has been flowering intensity of honey bees V2 planted in the mid July
observed for white seeded (V2) & black seeded (V1) 58 bees/m2/10 min) followed by the same variety planted in
varieties of buck wheat both planted in mid July (48.33 the late July about 40bees/m2/10min with lower bee visit V1
bees/m2/10min) and (38 bees/m2/10min) respectively with planted in the mid August 14 bees/m2/10min having the
the mean value of about 36 visitors of bees/m2/10min in the mean value of 31.48 bees/m2/10min.
Table 3. Effects of sowing date on honey bee Intensity to visit Buck wheat forage at different time of the day.

Time of Honey Bee Visit Buck Wheat

Sowing Date Variety
02:30-02:40 04:30-04:40 07:30-07:40 09:30-09:40
1 13.67d 6.67c 1.67a 0.17b
July, 15
2 29.17a 13.67ab 0.83a 0.00b
cd
1 15.33 11.83ab 1.00a 0.33ab
July, 25
2 27.00ab 14.67ab 1.00a 0.00b
ab
1 24.33 14.33ab 1.17a 0.00b
Aug, 05
2 28.17ab 14.00ab 1.50a 0.00b
cd
1 16.00 10.33bc 1.00a 0.00b
Aug, 15
2 22.83abc 14.33ab 0.83a 0.33ab
abcd
1 21.50 16.33a 1.50a 0.00b
Aug, 25
2 20.00bcd 14.67ab 1.33a 0.83a
Mean 21.8 13.08 1.18 0.17
SEM 1.16 0.68 0.09 0.07
CV 19.6 20.5 38.4 19.4

From the result significance difference for flowering during time 08:30-08:40 am buck wheat V2 planted in the
intensity of honey bees has been observed higher bee visiting mid July (29.17 bees/m2/10min). But, lower for V1 planted in
4 Tusa Gemechu and Amsalu Arega: Effects of Sowing Date on the Growth, Yield and Honey Bee Foraging Intensity of
Buck Wheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) at Bako Agricultural Research Center
the same date (13.67 bees/m2/10min)
Generally honey bee foraging intensity, varies with time of
the day. The intensive visitation of honey bees with the mean
value of about 22 bees/m2/10min and 13 bees/m2/10min at
early in the morning (08:30-08:40 am) and (04:30-04:40 am)
has been recorded respectively. The result clearly indicate
that length of the plant staying with flowering, grain yield,
honey bee intensity at different flowering stage and time of
bees visit at different time of the day of the study plant is
affected by sowing dates. Flowers of cross-pollinating
species of buckwheat are attractive to insects because of the
nectar secreted by the glands at the base of the ovary. Bees
and other insects contribute to the distribution of pollen. The
glands secrete nectar only in the morning and early afternoon
and therefore if honey bees are introduced to increase seed
set they must be forced to work the buckwheat [10]
(Campbell and Clayton G. 1997).
4. Conclusion and Recommendations
Buck wheat is one of the important honey bee forage. The
seeds of buck wheat germinate and emerged rapidly 4-5 Days
after planting. Flowering begins about 27 Days after planting
and proceeds prolifically for about one month (31.5 Days)
before gradually tapering off as the plant matures 10-11
Weeks after planting. The obtained average grain yield was
about 14.4kg/ha, Even though the seed set is the major
constraint to buck wheat production worldwide.
Early flowering stage of buck wheat was intensively
visited by honey bees than that of late flowering stage. As
true for most of honey forages buck wheat was mostly visited
by honey bees the time from 08:30 to 10:40 am than
afternoon the time from 01:30 to 03:40 pm. Length of plant
staying with flowering, grain yield, and honey bee foraging
intensity at different flowering stage and time of bees visit at
different time of the day of the study plant is affected by
sowing dates. Therefore, planting buck wheat in the mid July
to Late July is appropriate time for both honey bee
intensively use and grain yield, with the seeding rate of
50kg/ha and fertilizer rate of about 46kg/ha for Bako and
similar agro ecologies.
References
[1] Agriculture Canada. (1978). Growing buckwheat. Ottawa
Canada: Canadian Department of Agriculture.
[2] Gubbels, G. H. 1978. Yield, seed weight, hull percentage and
testa colour of buckwheatat two soil moisture regimes. Can. J.
Plant Sci. 58:881-883.
[3] Eggum, B. O., Kreft, I. & Javornik, B. (1981) Chemical
composition and protein quality of buckwheat (Fagopyrum
esculentum Moench). Qual. Plant Foods Hum. Nutr. 30: 175–
179.
[4] Francischi, M. L., J. M. Salfado and R. F. Leitao. 1994.
Chemical, nutritional and technological characteristics of
buckwheat and prolamine buckwheat flours in comparison of
wheat flour. Plant Foods and Human Nutrition 46: 323–329.
[5] Jiang Y, et al. (1995) BTS1 encodes a geranylgeranyl
diphosphate synthase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Biol
Chem 270 (37):21793-9.
[6] Marshall, H. G. and Y. Pomeranz. 1982. Buckwheat:
Description, breeding, production and, utilization. Pp. 157-210
in Advances in Cereal Science and Technology. Vol. 5. (Y.
Pomeranz, ed.). American Associationof Cereal Chemists
Incorporated, St. Paul, Minnesota.
[7] Phillips, E. F. and G. S. Demuth. 1922. Beekeeping in the
buckwheat region. U.S. Department of Agricultural Farmers'
Bulletin 1216: 26. Rajbhandari, B. P. 2010. Buckwheat in the
land of Everest. Himalayan College of Agricultural Sciences
and Technology (HICAST), Kathmandu, Nepal. 132p.
[8] Grigorenko, V. 1979. Okratnosti posešèenija pèelami greèichi.
Pèelovodstvo 10:18-19. Jiang, H. M. J., P. K. Whelton, J. P.
Mo, J. Y. Chen, M. C. Quian, P. S. Mo and G. Q. He. 1995.
Oats and buckwheat intakes and cardiovascular disease risk
factors in an ethnic minority in China. American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition 61: 366– 372.
[9] Bjorkman, T. 2002. Guide to buckwheat production in the
Northeast. New York State Agriculture and Extension Service,
Cornell University, Geneva. Available
on:http://www.nysaes.cornell. edu/ hort/
faculty/bjorkman/buck/guide/index.html (Retrievedon
10/10/2011).
[10] Gomez, K. A. and A. A. Gomez. 1984. Statistical procedures
for agricultural research. 2nd ed. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
New York, USA. 680 p.
[11] Baniya, B. K., D. M. S. Dongol, and N. R. Dhungel. 1995.
Further characterization and evaluation of Nepalese
buckwheat (Fagopyrum spp.) landraces. Pp. 295-304 in
Current.
[12] Campbell, C. G. and G. H. Gubbels. 1978. Growing
Buckwheat, Agriculture Canada Publication 1468. Agriculture
Canada, Ottawa.